There are some super fucked up societal dynamics in SK. Japan, China, and a lot of other East Asian countries with more conformist cultures have a depressing amount of that. It’s one of the reasons I don’t think I could put up with living in Japan long-term, despite enjoying a lot of the other cultural aspects enormously.
Also, check out the criminal justice system. Something like a 98 or 99% conviction rate, iirc. Kinda insane.
And the corollary there is that a blind eye is turned towards a LOT of things, especially if it involves yakuza and it’s not reasonably serious. And the attendant corruption that comes with that, of course.
Can’t say it holds a candle to what the US is doing these days though.
South Korea is a weird place. They do some things really, really well. But the things they do badly, they’re really bad at it, and even worse they refuse to admit having a problem.
WTF is a country with a .75 fertility rate exporting the few children it has?
(fertility is measured as the average children each woman has. You need a 2.1 to maintain population.)
There are some super fucked up societal dynamics in SK. Japan, China, and a lot of other East Asian countries with more conformist cultures have a depressing amount of that. It’s one of the reasons I don’t think I could put up with living in Japan long-term, despite enjoying a lot of the other cultural aspects enormously.
I agree with you. The cultural export is fine. If you were rich, being there would be fine. If you are a worker in an office, it sounds awful.
Also, check out the criminal justice system. Something like a 98 or 99% conviction rate, iirc. Kinda insane.
And the corollary there is that a blind eye is turned towards a LOT of things, especially if it involves yakuza and it’s not reasonably serious. And the attendant corruption that comes with that, of course.
Can’t say it holds a candle to what the US is doing these days though.
South Korea is a weird place. They do some things really, really well. But the things they do badly, they’re really bad at it, and even worse they refuse to admit having a problem.
They are admitting to stuff in this article…
That was what I was thinking too, but looks like it’s about children way back in the day.